Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal with two loops, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal

BIOGRAPHY

Richard was born in Elkins, West Virginia. He was the oldest of three children born to Virginia Gilbert and Jerome Ellis Jernigan. The family moved to Pecos, Texas when Richard was in elementary school. He attended Pecos High School and dropped out his junior year to join the Army in February 1960 at age 17.

Richard-right and Brother-Pecos, Texas 1959

Jergnigan Greyhound Station, Pecos-1960-Leaving for Army

He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and then completed a Vehicle Maintance Course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was a mechanic in the Army working on trucks and small vehicles. He received his GED while in the Army. He had a tour of duty in Germany, was stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska and Fort Bliss, Texas. He had served two previous tours in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division.

Jernigan PFC-1961

Jergnigan and Motor Bike-Germany-1963

Jernigan-Vietnam-101st Abn-1966

At Fort Hood, Texas in 1969, he joined a Flying Club and was getting his pilot's license. He was at Fort Hood, Texas when he volunteered for his third tour of duty in Vietnam after his second re-enlistment. His tour date began on July 12, 1968 and he was assigned as a vehicle mechanic with the 415th Radio and Relay Detachment, 328th Radio and Relay Company, 509th Army Security Agency Group, United States Army-Vietnam. His unit was supporting the Americal Division. Richard became ill the first week of September, 1968 and was hospitalized at the 2nd Surgical Hospital in Vietnam. He expired on September 10, 1968 from viral pneumonia.

ernigan-Fort Hood-1968

He was buried with full military honors at Fort Richardson, Alaska. His younger brother Fred had acted as a body escort and was stationed at Fort Richardson. His parents were residing with his younger brother. He was survived by his parents, his younger brother, Sgt Fred Jernigan and sister Mary Lu who was residing in New York. He was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant and was also posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.